QBG participates in International Congress on Botanical Garden Education in South Korea

Doha, Qatar: The Qur anic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), participated in the International Congress on Botanic...

Doha, Qatar: The Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), participated in the International Congress on Botanical Garden Education, held in Seoul, South Korea, over the period of June 9 to 13, 2025. The event was organised by the Korea National Arboretum (KNA) in collaboration with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).

QBG showcased its pioneering educational initiatives and fostered international cooperation in the fields of plant conservation, scientific research, and knowledge exchange. The garden was represented by an official delegation led by Fatima Saleh Al-Khulaifi, Director of the Qur’anic Botanic Garden, and included Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi, Events and Social Media Specialist, and Mohamed Hassona, Horticulturist.

The congress brought together more than 1,600 experts from 51 countries. QBG hosted an interactive exhibition booth featuring live and preserved specimens of plants mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, as well as native Qatari flora. The booth also showcased educational materials and documents about Islamic agricultural heritage and the garden’s educational programs.

Hassona also delivered a lecture titled Where Heritage and Botany Meet which highlighted QBG’s vision and pioneering role as the world’s first institution dedicated to the collection, conservation, and cultivation of plant species referenced in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, and integrated approach combining environmental sciences with Islamic values.

During the event, organisers declared June 12 as the International Day of Education in Botanical Gardens—a global initiative aimed at strengthening international collaboration and raising awareness about the role of education in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainability.